Amber Heard Explains the Female Superheroes of DC Comics for Allure's December Issue

Courage, strength, hope. These are the descriptors that people almost always use to describe their favorite superheroes. And in 2017, they came back into the public in a big way. Although many of these characters been around for over 70 years, superheroes are entering the mainstream in a way that couldn’t be more exciting. Feeling a little lost on which characters are super important to know? Amber Heard is here to help.

Our December cover star is making her own debut in this month’s Justice League. The veteran film star, who's appeared in everything from Friday Night Lights and Magic Mike XXL to The Danish Girl and The Adderall Diaries, will portray Mera, the aquatic warrior and Queen of Atlantis. We’re going to be seeing a lot more of her in the Aquaman movie set to premiere next year, but for now, what we do see in Justice League is a necessary reminder that women absolutely belong in comics and their film counterparts.

Let's step back for a second. People love superheroes because they encourage us to be our best selves, but what actually makes a hero, or rather, who is allowed to be a hero? For so long, marginalized people struggled to see themselves reflected on silver screens and in the pages of a comic book. But things are finally starting to change: Wonder Woman made her big screen debut this June in her ubiquitous film, but she’s just one of many female superheroes that are making their way to the public eye in a big way. In fact, Wonder Woman may be one of the most popular female superheroes, but she’s certainly not the only one out there, so Heard wants to give any confused-yet-excited potential comic lovers a concise rundown.

In the video below, Heard talks to us about some of the most popular superheroines (or villains) in comics — Wonder Woman, Big Barda, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Ms. Marvel, Rocket, Vixen, Riri Williams, Jubilee, and Lunella Lafayette are bringing as much-needed representation for girls and women of color; queer superheroines like Batwoman, Karolina Dean, and Mystique break away from assumptions about sexuality while kicking ass. Even beyond the pages, talented women and femmes work to write, color, and create art to bring our favorite superheroines to life and deserve to be celebrated, as well.

Women and femmes — and people of all marginalized genders — deserve to feel the power and hope that comes with seeing their favorite superhero save the day, giving them the courage to do the same. We deserve to see heroes that remind us that we have that power. It's important to know about these incredible women Heard details in this video are the same characters who are making comics even more exciting for a massive audience. For fans, there’s nothing greater than seeing our favorite heroes on screen and holding them in our hands as they fight to save the day, one panel at a time.

There are so many other fantastic heroines in the DC universe, so if you're ready to get started, Amber Heard is ready to help kick off your own comic book journey.